Fish Report

Well, at least there is a little snow on the ground for the muzzle loader hunters out there. There seems to be a good number of hunters out there trying their luck, but those I talked to are not seeing many deer. It seems the deer are doing most of their moving at night right now.

From all reports it seems like the firearm deer season was on the positive side this year. Even with the crazy weather it seems there was more success than the last few years. The number of deer seems to be up so hunters saw more deer and were happy with the way their year went.

It is funny how when hunters are happy it seems life in the U.P. is a lot more enjoyable.

There were some real nice buck taken this year but I have always wondered how it will affect a young hunter when on his first hunt he gets that once in a lifetime buck most of us only dream about. When something like this happens there is really one major problem, from this first year trophy all you have to look forward too is going downhill.

It is hard to believe that we only have a couple of weeks of 2012 left. It also is hard to believe that in just over a week the days will start getting longer and we will be heading towards summer. Life sure can be a project.

Some time back I wrote in my article that Moses would never have been able to get a permit to cross the Red Sea. It seems someone felt like I do about all the rules we have now and sent me this on Noah building the Ark and collecting the animals. Just some food for thought.

In the year 2011, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in America and said: “Once again, the earth has become wicked and over -populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another ark and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans.”

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: “You have six months to build the ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.”

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark. “Noah!” He roared, “I’m about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?” “Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah, “but things have changed.”

“I needed a building permit.”

“I’ve been arguing with the boat inspector about the need for a sprinkler system.”

“My neighbors claim that I’ve violated the neighborhood bylaws by building the ark in my back yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the local Planning Committee for a decision.”

“Then the local council and the electricity company demanded a shed load of money for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the ark’s move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear none of it.”

“Getting the wood was another problem. There’s a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the Greater Spotted Barn Owl.” “I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!”

“When I started gathering the animals the ASPCA took me to court. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.”

“Then the environmental agency ruled that I couldn’t build the ark until they’d conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.”

“I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I’m supposed to hire for my building crew.”

“The immigration department is checking the visa status of most of the people who want to work.”

“The trade unions say I can’t use my sons. They insist I have to hire only union workers with ark-building experience.”

“To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.”

“So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this ark.”

“Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.”

Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean you’re not going to destroy the world?”

“No,” said the Lord. “The government beat me to it.”

And in talking to so many people, a lot of them in business, the common consensus seems to be, “We really haven’t seen anything yet if things keep going the way they are.”